G/AG/N/IND/25  
 
8 April 2021 
(21-2945) Page: 1/13 
Committee on Agriculture  Original: English  
 
 
NOTIFICATION  
The following submission, dated 31 March  2021, is being circulated at the request of the delegation 
of India . The notification concerns domestic support commitments ( Table DS:1 and the relevant 
supporting tables) for the Marketing Year 2019/2020 . 
 
_______________  
 
 
Pursuant to the Bali Ministerial Decision on Public Stockholding for Food Security Purposes 
(WT/MIN(13)/38) and the General Council Decision (WT/L/939), India wishes to notify the 
Committee on Agriculture that it has exceeded the de minimis  level for rice for the marketing 
year 2019-2020.  India's breach of commitment for rice, a traditional staple food crop, under 
Article  7.2(b) of the Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) arises from support provided in pursuance of 
public stockholding programmes for food securit y purposes which were in existence as on the date 
of the Bali Ministerial Decision on Public Stockholding for Food Security Purposes (WT/MIN(13)/38).  
India's public stockholding programmes for food security purposes (covering rice and a number of 
other co mmodities) have been consistently reported in its Table DS:1 notifications since 1995. 
The programme is consistent with the criteria of paragraph 3, footnote 5, and footnote 5&6 of 
Annex  2 to the AoA. Further, the stocks under the programme are acquired an d released in order to 
meet the domestic food security needs of India's poor and vulnerable population, and not to impede 
commercial trade or food security of others.  For these reasons, the breach of the de minimis  limits 
for rice is covered by the peace c lause set out in the Bali Ministerial Decision on Public Stockholding 
for Food Security Purposes (WT/MIN(13)/38) and the General Council Decision (WT/L/939).  
 
India's domestic support notification for 2019/20 as well as additional information pursuant to 
paragraph 3 of the Bali Ministerial Decision is provided hereunder.  
 
 
  
  G/AG/N/IND/25  
 
- 2 - Table DS:1  
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: INDIA  
REPORTING PERIOD: MARKETING YEAR FROM 1 OCTOBER 2019 TO 30 SPTEMBER 2020   
Current Total Aggregate Measurement of Support  
Total AMS commitment level  Currency  Current Total AMS  
(from Section I of Part IV of the Schedule)  (from Section I of Part IV of the Schedule)  (from attached Supporting Tables)  
1  2  3  
  USD/million 6,317. 52* 
* Based on the available provisional data  
General Note:  
India has no specific total AMS reduction commitments in its schedule. Domestic support to agricultural producers was provided through operations of the Mini stry of Agriculture 
and Farmers ' Welfare and other government departments. The attached supporting tables provide details of agricu ltural measures. All support for 2019/20, except the 
product -specific AMS for rice, is covered by the domestic support categories which are exempt from reduction commitments under the Ag reement on Agriculture. The attached 
supporting tables provide details  of support measures for 2019/20.  
Exchange rate for 2019 -20: Rs. 70.897 /USD (Annual Average, Source: RBI).  
   
  G/AG/N/IND/25  
 
- 3 - Supporting Table DS:1  
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: INDIA  
REPORTING PERIOD: MARKETING YEAR FROM 1  OCTOBER 2019 TO 30  SPTEMBER 2020  
Measures exempt from the  reduction commitment - "Green Box"  
Measure Type  Name and description of measure with reference to criteria in 
Annex 2  Monetary value  
 
USD,  million  Data Sources  Note  
1 2 3 4  
2.General Services      
2 (a). Research   1,012.65  Ministry of Agriculture 
and Farmers' Welfare 
& various Boards   
Subtotal:  1,012.65    
2 (b). Pest and disease control   162.64  Ministry of Agriculture 
and Farmers' Welfare 
& various Boards   
Subtotal:  162.64    
2 (c). Training services   42.16  Ministry of Agriculture 
and Farmers' Welfare 
& various Boards   
Subtotal:  42.16    
2 (d). Extension and advisory services   800.13  Ministry of Agriculture 
and Farmers' Welfare 
& various Boards   
Subtotal:  800.13    
2 (e). Inspection services   4.27 Ministry of Agriculture 
and Farmers' Welfare 
& various Boards   
Subtotal:  4.27   
2 (f). Marketing and promotion services   377.91  Ministry of Agriculture 
and Farmers' Welfare 
& various Boards   
Subtotal:  377.91    
2 (g). Infrastructural services   856.06  Ministry of Agriculture 
and Farmers' Welfare 
& various Boards   
Subtotal:  856.06    
 Subtotal General Services  3,255.8 3    
  G/AG/N/IND/25  
 
- 4 - Measure Type  Name and description of measure with reference to criteria in 
Annex 2  Monetary value  
 
USD,  million  Data Sources  Note  
1 2 3 4  
3. Public stockholding for food security purposes  Allocation for distribution and buffer stock  18,676.11  Ministry of Consumer 
Affairs, Food & Public 
Distribution (FCI)  (1) 
Subtotal:  18,676.11    
6. Decoupled income support  Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM -KISAN)  6,871.07  Ministry of Agriculture 
and Farmers' Welfare   
Subtotal:  6,871.07    
8. Payments for relief from natural disasters  Payments (made either directly or by way of government financial 
participation in crop insurance schemes) for relief from natural disasters  1,474.56  Ministry of Agriculture 
and Farmers' Welfare  (2) 
Subtotal:  1,474.56    
Grand Total Green Box  30,277.5 7   
Notes:  
(1) Based on the available provisional data . 
(2) Government subsidies on premium of agricultural insurance for production loss exceeding 30% of the average of production.  
 
   
  G/AG/N/IND/25  
 
- 5 - Supporting Table DS:2  
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: INDIA  
REPORTING PERIOD: MARKETING YEAR FROM 1 OCTOBER 2019 TO 30 SPTEMBER 2020  
Measures exempt from the reduction commitment – Special and Differential Treatment – "Development Programmes"  
Measure Type  Name and description of measure wi th reference to 
criteria in Article 6.2  Monetary value  
 
USD,  million  Data Sources  Note  
1 2 3 4  
(b) Input subsidies available to low -income or resource -poor producers  Other input subsidies  25,097.52  Ministry of Chemicals 
and Fertilizers, 
Ministry of Power, 
Ministry of Statistics 
and Program 
Implementation  (1) 
Subtotal:  25,097.52    
Grand Total Development Programmes  25,097.52    
Note:  
(1) Includes support for irrigation, fertilizers, and electricity. As per the Agricultural Census for year 2015-16, 99.43% of farm holdings are of low -income or resource poor 
farmers.  
   
  G/AG/N/IND/25  
 
- 6 - Supporting Table DS:4   
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: INDIA  
REPORTING PERIOD: MARKETING YEAR FROM 1 OCTOBER 2019 TO 30 SPTEMBER 2020   
Calculation of the Current Total Aggregate Measurement  of Support  
Description of basic products (including non -product 
specific AMS)  
 
 Product specific AMS 
(from ST DS:5  
to DS:7)  
 
USD,  million  Product -specific EMS 
(from ST DS:8)  
 
 
USD,  million  Total  
(2 + 3)  
 
 
USD,  million  Current Total AMS  
 
 
USD,  million  Note  
 
1 2 3  4  
Coarse cereal  34.58   34.58  0 (de minimis )  
Cotton  890.40   890.40  0 (de minimis )  
Groundnut  146.67   146.67  0 (de minimis )  
Pulses  758.56   758.56  0 (de minimis )  
Rapeseed/mustard  120.61   120.61  0 (de minimis )  
Rice 6,317.52   6,317.52  6,317.52  (1) (2) 
Soyabean Yellow  3.13  3.13 0 (de minimis )  
Sunflower  0.95  0.95 0 (de minimis )  
Wheat  256.7   256.7  0 (de minimis )  
Non-product -specific AMS(from ST/DS:9)  4,764. 96 0 (de minimis )  
TOTAL  6,317. 52  
Note:  
(1) Based on the available provisional data.  
(2) Value of production of rice was USD 46,077.31 million for 2019 -20.  
   
  G/AG/N/IND/25  
 
- 7 - Supporting Table DS:5  
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: INDIA  
REPORTING PERIOD: MARKETING YEAR FROM 1 OCTOBER 2019 TO 30 SPTEMBER 2020  
Product -Specific Aggr egate Measurements of Support: Market Price Support  
Description of basic 
products  Reporting Year  Measure 
Types  Applied 
administered 
price  
 
 
USD External 
reference price 
(generally 
from AGST)  
 
USD Eligible production  Associated 
fees / 
levies  
 
 
USD,  million Total market 
price support 
((4-5)*6) -7 
 
 
USD,  million  Data 
Sources  Note  
Type  From  To 
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9  
Coarse cereal  MY 01-10-19 30-09-20 Price support  318.65/Tonne  238.57/Tonne  0.43 million Tonnes   34.58   
Total Coarse cereal          34.58   
Cotton  MY 01-10-19 30-09-20 Price support  1,790.75/Tonne  1,292.64/Tonne  1.79 million Tonnes   890.40  (1) 
Total Cotton          890.40   
Groundnut  MY 01-10-19 30-09-20 Price support  717.94/Tonne  514.58/Tonne  0.72 million Tonnes   146.67   
Total Groundnut          146.67   
Pulses  MY 01-10-19 30-09-20 Price support  796.23/Tonne  345.66/Tonne  1.68 million Tonnes   758.56   
Total Pulses          758.56   
Rapeseed/Mustard  MY 01-10-19 30-09-20 Price support  624.14/Tonne  513.39/Tonne  1.09 million Tonnes   120.61   
Total 
Rapeseed/mustard          120.61   
Rice MY 01-10-19 30-09-20 Price support  384.01/Tonne  262.51/Tonne  51.997 million Tonnes   6,317.52  (2) 
(3) 
(4) 
Total Rice          6,317.52   
Soyabean Yellow  MY 01-10-19 30-09-20 Price support  523.29/Tonne  229.77/Tonne  0.01 million Tonnes   3.13   
Total Soyabean 
Yellow          3.13   
Sunflower  MY 01-10-19 30-09-20 Price support  796.93/Tonne  513.39/Tonne  0.003 million Tonnes   0.95   
Total Sunflower          0.95   
Wheat  MY 01-10-19 30-09-20 Price support  271.52/Tonne  264/Tonne  34.13 million Tonnes   256.70   
Total Wheat          256.70   
Notes:  
(1) Applied administered price is arrived at after considering a co-efficient of 2.35 for conversion of raw cotton to lint cotton.  
(2) Applied administered price is arrived at after considering a co -efficient of 1.5 for conversion of raw paddy to rice.  
(3) Other support for rice, that is, other than public stockholding  for food security purposes, will be notified subsequently.  
(4) Based on the available provision al data.  
  G/AG/N/IND/25  
 
- 8 - General Notes:  
1) Exchange rate for 1986 -88: Rs.13.409/USD .  
2) Exchange rate for 2019 -20: Rs. 70.897 /USD (Annual Average, Source: RBI).  
3) Support for each of the listed products is below the relevant "product -specific" de minimis level (Article 6.4(b) refers), except rice.  
4) Figures in the table above have been r ounded off up  to two decimal points . 
   
  G/AG/N/IND/25  
 
- 9 - Supporting Table DS:9  
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: INDIA  
REPORTING PERIOD: MARKETING YEAR FROM 1 OCTOBER 2019 TO 30 SPTEMBER 2020   
Non-Product -Specific AMS  
Measure Types  Reporting Year  Non-product -
specific 
budgetary 
outlays  
 
USD,  million  Other non -product 
specific support 
(include calculation 
details)  
 
USD,  million  Associated 
fees / levies  
 
 
 
USD,  million  Total non -
product -specific 
support  
(3+4 -5) 
 
USD,  million  Data 
Sources  Note  
Type  From  To 
1 2 3 4 5 6 7  
Insurance Premium Subsidy  MY 01-10-19 30-09-20 2,477.31    2,477.31  Ministry of 
Agriculture 
and 
Farmers' 
Welfare  (1) 
Interest Subsidy  FY 01-04-19 31-03-20 2,287.65   2,287.65 Ministry of 
Agriculture 
and 
Farmers' 
Welfare   
TOTAL  4,764.96  
Note:  
(1) Government subsidies on premiums of agricultural insurance for production loss not exceeding 30% of the average of production . 
 
 G/AG/N/IND/25  
 
- 10 - 
 
  ANNEX  
PURSUANT TO THE BALI MINISTERIAL DECISION OF 7 DECEMBER 2013 ON PUBLIC  
STOCKHOLDING FOR FOOD SECURITY PURPOSES  
INDIA  
General information*  
FACTUAL INFORMATION CONFIRMING THAT DS:1 NOTIFICATIONS AND RELEVANT 
SUPPORTING TABLES FOR THE PRECEDING 5 YEARS ARE U P-TO-DATE  
(E.G. DATE AND DOCUMENT DETAILS).  
The DS:1 notification detail for preceding 5 years are as follows:  
2019-20 G/AG/N/IND/ 25 8 April 2021  
2018-19 G/AG/N/IND/18  31 March 2020  
2017-18 G/AG/N/IND/15  29 March 2019  
2016-17 G/AG/IND/13/Corr.1  30 July 2018  
2016-17 G/AG/N/IND/13  20 July 2018  
2015-16 G/AG/N/IND/12  1 May 2018  
DETAILS OF THE PROGRAMME SUFFICIENT TO IDENTIFY FOOD SECURITY OBJECTIVE 
AND SCALE OF THE PROGRAMME, INCLUDING:  
a. Name of the programme:  
1. Minimum support price (MSP) programme  
2. In order to achieve the food security of the country, the Government of India and 
various State  Governments implement, welfare schemes such as the Public Distribution 
System and National Food  Security Act, 2013 through various agencies.  
b. Traditional stable food crop(s) covered  
Rice, Wheat, Coarse Grains and Pulses  
c. Agency in charge of implementation  
These programmes are implemented jointly by the Central Government (Ministry of Consumer 
Affairs, Food  and Public Dist ribution, Food Corporation of India (FCI), National Agricultural 
Cooperative Federation of India  (NAFED)) and State governments . 
d. Relevant laws and regulations  
National Food Security Act, 2013; various Public Distribution System (Control) Orders and 
their subsequent  amendments issued under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955; and various 
State legislations/orders.  
e. Date of commencement of the programme  
Public Distribution System: Since 1960s  
National Food Security Act: 2013  G/AG/N/IND/25  
 
- 11 - 
 
  f. Officially published objective criteria or guidelines  
The main objectives of food security programmes are –  
1. ensuring Minimum Support Price to the farmers;  
2. equitable distribution of available foodgrains at affordable prices to the marginalized and 
vulnerable sections  of society throughout the year;  
3. to maintain stability in foodgrains prices throughout the country during the year; and  
4. to maintain an adequate buffer stock of foodgrains to deal with fluctuations in production 
and to meet unforeseen exigencies and natura l calamities.  
PRACTICAL DESCRIPTION OF HOW THE PROGRAMME OPERATES, INCLUDING:  
a. Provisions relating to the purchase of stocks, including the way the administered 
acquisition price is determined  
b. Provisions related to volume and accumulation of stocks, including any provisions 
related to   pre-determined targets and quantitative limits  
c. Provisions related to the release of stocks, including the determination of the 
release price and targeting (eligibility to receive procured stocks)  
3 (a-c): The Government  policy of procurement of foodgrains has the objectives of ensuring 
Minimum Support Price (MSP) to the farmers and the availability of foodgrains to the marginalized 
and vulnerable sections at affordable prices. It also ensures effective market interventio n thereby 
keeping the prices under check and also adding to overall food security of the country.  
Before the harvest during each Rabi/Kharif Crop season, the Government of India announces the 
minimum support prices (MSP) for procurement on the basis of th e recommendation of the 
Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) which along with other factors, takes into 
consideration the cost of various agricultural inputs and a reasonable margin for farmers for their 
produce.  
Centre and State Government s, through their agencies such as Food Corporation of India (FCI), 
National Agricultural Cooperative Federation of India (NAFED) and others, procure foodgrains from 
farmers at the Minimum Support Price in order to meet the overall demand of different welfa re 
schemes. To meet the operational requirements of foodgrains and exigencies at any point of time, 
Government of India maintains stock of foodgrains in the Central Pool stock. The Stocking Norms 
comprise: (a) Operational stocks - for meeting monthly distr ibutional requirements under food 
security programme; and, (b) Food Security stocks/reserves - for meeting shortfall in procurement.  
In order to achieve food security in the country, the Government is implementing the National Food 
Security Act, 2013 (NFS A) which provides for coverage of 75 % of rural and 50% of urban population 
at the all -India level, to receive foodgrains at subsidized price of Rs.1/2/3  per kg for 
coarse  grains/wheat/rice. The subsidized prices are determined by the Government keeping th e 
objective of food security of people in view. The coverage under NFSA is under two categories - 
(a) households covered under Antyodaya Anna Yoiana (AAY) and, (b) the remaining households as 
priority Households. AAY covers 2.5 crore poorest of the poor hou seholds across the country and 
have been identified by State Governments on the basis of guidelines prescribed by the Central 
Government. Priority households have been identified using State -specific criteria evolved by the 
State Governments. In addition t o rice, wheat and coarse cereals, the Centre and State Governments 
also distribute pulses to eligible households under the public distribution system (PDS).  G/AG/N/IND/25  
 
- 12 - 
 
  
A DESCRIPTION OF ANY MEASURES AIMED AT MINIMISING PRODUCTION OR TRADE 
DISTORTIVE EFFECTS OF THE PROGRAMME  
Government does not undertake exports on a commercial basis from public stockholdings. 
Additionally, open market sales of food grains from public stockholding are made provided the buyer 
gives an undertaking of not exporting from such purchases.  
STATISTICAL INFORMATION (AS PER THE STATISTICAL APPENDIX BELOW)  
ANY OTHER INFORMATION CONSIDERED RELEVANT, INCLUDING WEBSITE 
REFERENCES : 
Department of Food and Public Distribution: http://dfpd.nic.in    
Ministry of Women a nd Child Development: http://www.wcd.nic.in    
Ministry of Human Resource Development: http://mhrd.gov.in    
Ministry of Rural Development: http://ru ral.nic.in    
Ministry of Defence: http://mod.nic.in    G/AG/N/IND/25  
 
- 13 - 
 
  STATISTICAL APPENDIX (RICE)  
PURSUANT TO THE BALI MINISTERIAL DEVISION OF 7 DECEMBER 2013,  
ON PUBLIC STOCKHOLDING FOR FOOD SECURITY PURPOSES  
INDIA  
Rice Unit 2017‑18 2018‑19 2019 -20* 
a. Opening balance of stocks  Million Ton  29.78  30.04  29.39  
b. Annual purchases under the programme (value) (c*f)  Billion USD  13.75  16.64  19.97  
c. Annual purchases under the programme (quantity)  Million Ton  38.13  44.33  51.997  
d. Annual releases under the programme (value)  Billion USD  1.59 1.48 1.41 
e. Annual releases under the programme (quantity)  Million Tons  34.2 34.4 33.36  
f. Purchase prices  USD/Ton  360.72  375.41  384.01  
g. Release prices  USD/Ton  46.54  42.90  42.31  
h. End-year stocks#  Million Ton  30.043  29.39  32.23  
i. Total production (quantity)  Million Ton  112.91  116.48  118.43  
j. Total production (value)  Billion USD  42.23  43.67  46.08  
k. Information on population benefiting from the release 
of this crop and quantities released:         
- Estimated number of beneficiaries at national level 
and, if possible, at sub - national level  Percentage  75% of rural population and 50% of urban 
population at the all -India level  
- Quantity released to the beneficiaries at the national 
level and, if possible, at the sub -national level  Million Tons  34.20  34.40  33.36  
- Other  Million Ton  0.46 0.85 1.61 
Open market Sale (Domestic)      
l. In the case of government aid to private storage, 
statistics on the support granted and any updated 
statistics  Godowns being constructed by private investors under 
the Private Entrepreneurs Guarantee Scheme (PEG) are 
eligible for getting subsidy from NABARD under Gramin 
Bhandaran Yojana, promoted by the Ministry of 
Agricul ture. 
m. Total imports (value) **  Million USD  0 0 0 
n. Total imports (quantity) **  Million Ton  0 0 0 
o. Total export (value) Million USD  Million USD  0 0 0 
p. Total export (quantity) Million Ton  Million Ton  0 0 0 
* Based on the available p rovisional  data 
** Only export and import from public stockholding have been considered here.  
#  End year stocks reflected in the table do not take into account the unmilled paddy.  
 
__________